GEB plans to curb power theft

VADODARA, Dec 16:Alarmed by the increasing transmission and distribution losses, the Gujarat Electricity Board GEB has begun work on an...

VADODARA, Dec 16:Alarmed by the increasing transmission and distribution losses, the Gujarat Electricity Board GEB has begun work on an action plan to curb power pilferage and plug other loopholes. Several core teams have been constituted with different assignments following a meeting of top officials of the Board presided over by chairman Nalin Bhatt on Tuesday.

Accordingly, a team of chief engineer distribution, general manager commerce and chief engineer vigilance will conduct a surveillance of the monthly power-usage of all high- and low-tension consumers as well as seasonal industries. If a sudden fall in recorded power-usage was found in any case, the units would be examined to detect if there had been any pilferage.

An executive engineer and a deputy engineer have been earmarked to check operations of those using less than 75 horse power. And a team of chief engineers in charge of distribution and vigilance have been told to regularly monitor their work.

The feeders found to be making excessive transmission and distribution losses would be identified and every sub-division concerned would be given three months to reduce it. They could repair meters, replace them and initiate every possible measure for it, according to an official statement from the Board. All superintending engineers operations and maintenance have been told to ensure proper checking of all installations to prevent pilferage there.

Officials expressed concern over attacks on the GEB staff during checking of power pilferage. The meeting decided that lists of such incidents be made with exhaustive details and taken up before the District Collectors and DSPs concerned. The Director of Security has been put in charge of this.

Giving figures, the Board chairman said the GEB8217;s deficit had risen to Rs 1274 crore in 1997-98 from Rs 1070 crore in 1996-97. The percentage of t and d losses was 18.22 in 1996-97 and 19.78 in 1997-98. The Board was determined to reduce the losses, he said.